Compressor



T. I. POTTER Oct. 21, 1930.

C QMPRES S OR 2 Sheets-Sheet L Filed March 30, 1927 T. I. POTTER COMPRESSOR Oct. 21,1930.

Filed March 30, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 Wm .M r R Mi W T f 2 NmN u 5 Y Q-M W H Hm MN- vw Q MN Q a 2 WW & Q a

' Patented Oct. 21,1930

. UNITED STATES THOMAS I. roman, or PORTLAND, OREGON COMPRESSOR Application filed March 30,1927. Serial No. 179,409.

This invention relates generally to the art of mechanical refrigeration, and especially to compressors employed in refrigerating systerns. 5 The main object of this invention is to construct a compressor having a relatively small number of parts and which will be low in weight for a given capacity, as Well as easy to build and maintain.

The second object is to construct a compressorfemploying an oscillating cylinder, which cylinder is heldto its seat by the combined action of gravity and pressure within the compressor case.

The third object is to so arrange the ports of the compressor as to reduce the tendency to knock, due to the trapping of liquids, and to avoid any loss of efliciency due to trapped gases being compressed instead of expelled.

The fourth object is to insure perfect lubrication of the 'vitalparts of the compressor as long as any lubricant remains in the crank case. These, and other objects, will become more apparent from the specification following as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: 1

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the compressor taken along the line 1-1 in Figure 2. Figure 2 is a vertical section'taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1. Figure 3 I v v is a section'taken along the line 33 in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 in-Figure '1 showing the piston descending on the pressure stroke. Figure 5 is similar to Figure 4 showing the piston in its lowermost position. Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5 but showing the piston on its upward or suction stroke. Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective 'sectional view through a form of check valve mechanism.

Figure 8 is a'horizontal sectiontaken along the line 88 in Figure 1.

' Similar numbersof reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

- Referring in detail to the drawings, the

compressor includes a central body member 10 provided with fins 11 having at its top an inlet pipe 12 for the'return of lubricant to the compressor. The body 10 has a large ends 1 each cylinder 17 is provided with a cutaway e0 area 21. The end of each bore 18 is'provided with a port 22 which can register either with the intake port 23 at one extreme of its travel or with the exhaust port 24 at its other extreme of travel. Under the exhaust ports 24 is secured the leaf spring 25 by'means of the screw 26. These springs operate as check valves preventing the return of gases through the ports 24.

Under the lower end of the body 10 is seecured a manifold 27 provided with intake passageways 28 which connect with the pipe 29 and an exhaust passageway 30 directly under the spring 25 and connecting with a 75 discharge pipe 31. The manifold 27 is held in place by the screws 32 and is preferably provided with ribs 33 for the radiation of heat.

Against one side of the body 10 is secured 80 a cover 34 in whose bearing 35 journals the eccentric shaft 36 in the bushing 37. The bearing 35 is made integral with the cover 34 by means of the wall 38 and the floor 39 which, togetherwith the cover 34, form an 85. elevated reservoir for the lubricant 40. I

The reduced end 41 of the shaft 36 passes through a stuffing box 42 insuring perfect lubrication of the. compressor shaft at all times. The opposite end 43 of the come0 pressor shaft is supported in the bearing 44- of, the cover 45', and has provided on its upper side an oil reservoir 46. r

Between the bearings 44 and 'forming'a part of the shaft 36 are the eccentrics 47 and 48which are diametrically opposed to each otheran-d are connectedto their respective piston by thestraps 49 and 50. Drain plugs 51 are provided in the covers 34 and 45. Lubricant 52 is carried in the crank ease up to a point where the eccentrics will dip into. same-and'splash lubricant upon all of the wearing parts not submergedin oil. Feet 53 are provided on the covers 34 and 45'and sup port the compressor over any suitable base.

t will be noted in Figure 5 thatwhen the eccentrics are on the dead center that the port 22 is somewhat nearer the exhaustport 24 than it is to the intake port 23 and that its period of discharge is somewhat in excessof its period of intake which is made neces sary, owing to the fact that there is greater resistance to the passage of'air through the discharge or exhaust port, due to pressure being built up' by the compressor than there is to the passage of gas through the intake port, which flow is usually assistd by external' pressure.

It can be. seen that by. this construction a rotation of the shaft 36 causes the eccentrics 47 and 48 to rotate and the cylinders 17 to oscillate alternately uncovering the intake and exhaust ports while the pisto'ns 19 are reciprocating in the cylinders in opposite directions, causing gas to be drawn into the cylinder on the upward stroke of its piston and discharge on its downward stroke. I

By this construction an exceedingly quiet compressor is obtained whichis always in a state of perfect lubrication and is constantly wearing itself to a more'perfect seat, due to the direction of the forces involved. Holes; 54 may be provided in the eccentric straps 49 and 50 to secure added lubrication, if desired. The cylinders '17 are preferably provided with cutaway portions to reduce their weightas much as possible.

It willbe observed that when at rest or in motion, gravitational action on the cylinder holds it toward its seat, and to this holding action is added the pressure of the gas above the cylinder. Ifthis appearsto be excessive it can be counterbalanced by further cutting away the portions 21. v

I claim:

1. In a compressor, the combination of an upper crank case and a lower oil reservoir bearing compartment having a communicating passage with said upper crank case, a pair of separate'cylinders rotatably mounted in said bearing compartment, said cylinders having their upper ends open and their lower ends closed, said closed ends having ports formed therein opening downwardly into having a pair of ports formed therein for the their seat areas, said bearing compartment emission of compressed fluid from said cylinders. a second pair of ports for-admittingfluid from the outside of said compressor case to the interior of said cylinders,-covers for said crank case having bearings formed, therein, a shaft mounted in said bearings and projecting through one of same, said bear ings having oil reservoirs formed on their upper sides, the bearing on the cover through body, the bearing thereinand having its which said shaft projects having itsreservoir constructed to form an oil seal against the packing around its projecting shaft, an eccentric on said shaft, pistons vattached to said eccentrics and extendinginto said cylinders, the rotation of said crank shaft causing said pistons to reciprocate in said cylinders and eccentric mounted above said cylinder, a

piston operated thereby extending down-.

wardly into said cylinder, 9. bearing for said cylinder mounted within said pressure case having inlet and outlet ports therein, check' valve means in said outlet port, said outlet port remaining in register with saidcylinder port for a greater length of time than does said inlet port.

V so 'merged in oil and having a'single *port formed in its lowerclosed seating and, an

In a compressor,the combination of an? oscillating cylindrical body having a cylinder formed therein, the axis of whose bore is-normal to its axis of oscillation, one end .of said cylinder opening through the surface of the bodyand the other end having a port' opening through the curved surface of said body, a piston within said cylinder, a crank foractuating said piston, a pressure-tight crank case whose lower end forms both an oil reservoir and a bearing for said cylinder having inlet and r municating with the exterior of the crank case and adapted to register alternately with said cylinder port, said outletlport having a check valve therein, said outlet port lying closer to' the dead center of the cylinder port-i than does the intake port. i

4. In a compressor, the combination of a rockable cylinder body having a cylinder formed therein whose bore axis is normal to its axis of oscillation,

reservoir having a bearing formed in its lowr end to receive said body without laterally confining same, the lower portion of said cylinder body having a port formed port area seat by pressure within said reservoir and a manifold under; said bearing having an inlet and outlet connectingport registering portion oifsaid crank case utlet ports therein coma pressure-tight oil held to its alternately with the port in said cylinder I during opposite portionsof its travel and communicating with the exterior of the compressor.

5. In a compressor, an oil containing case, cylinder bodies mounted on the horizontal axes therein, each of said cylinder bodies the combination of a pair of oscillating having a cylinder formed in one side thereof normal to the axis of oscillation, said cylinder bodies having a cylindrical exterior forming a closure for one end of the cylinder, the cylinder-closing portion of said body having a'port formed therein, said case having a pair of ports formed thereinfor each cylinderport, a pair of eccentrics within said casing, and pistons within said cylinders actuated by said eccentricsthe relation of said cylinder ports to said casing ports permitting same to register alternately with each other in such a manner that the discharge port is closed at the instant the pistonireaches dead center, that is without lap or lead, while the intake port has lap or negative lead.

6. In a compressor, the combination of a casing, an oscillating cylinder body mounted therein on a horizontal axis, said cylinder body having a cylinder formed therein normal to its horizontal axis and open at its upper end the curved surface on which said body journals'forming a closure for one end of the cylinder and having a port formed therein, a piston for oscillating said body said casing having a pair of spaced ports therein communicating with theexterior of the casing alternately with the cylinder port in such a manner that the discharge port, is

. closed at the instant the piston reaches dead center, that is without lap orlead, while the intake port has lap or negative lead.

7. In a compressor, the combination of a casing, a pair of oscillating cylinder bodies mounted therein on a horizontal axis, each ,of said cylinder bodies having a cylinder said casing, pistons actuated by said eccentries and occupying said cylinders, said casing having an oil well formed therein whose uppermost oil level touches said eccentrics for the purposeof supplying splash lubrication for the working parts in the casing, a shaft passing through the wall of said easing for drivin said eccentrics, a stuffing box around said s aft adapted to prevent the escape of oil from said casing, and an elevated reservoir for'oil around said shaft inside of said casing/adapted to be supplied by splash, said reservoir forming agas-tight oil packing against the packing in said stuffing box. V I

8. In a compressor, the combination of a casing, oscillating cylinder bodies mounted therein each of which has a cylinder formed therein normal to itsaxis of oscillation, each cylinder body having a portformedtherein communicating with the cylinder,'said casing having intake and discharge ports formed therein communicating with the exterior of the casing adapted'toregister alternately with the cylinder ports, the side. of each body having a cylinder port seating with the portion of the casing containing the intake and discharge ports, each of said bodies restingagainst their seats by grav-- ity and being urged toward same by pressure Within the compressor casing, and means for maintaining such pressure within the compressor casing consisting of a pres- ,sure lme openmg nto said compressor casing from the exterior thereof.

9. In a compressor, the combination of a crank casing, a horizontal crank shaft in the upper portion of said casing, an oscillating cylinder body having a horizontal axis of bearing for said cylinder body havin g inlet and outlet ports formed therein on opposite sides of the cylinder 'port adapted to register with said cylinder port alternatelyrdurin'gr the oscillation of said cylinder body, saidcylinder port being urged toward its seat by the action of gravity and pressure within the crank casing, and means for maintaining pressure within the crank case;

10. Ina compressor, the combination of a casing'having a bearing therein, an oscillat-f ing cylinder bodyjournaled in said bearing ona horizontal axis having a cylinder formed therein with the axis of borenormal to the axis of oscillation and the upper side, of the cylinder open, a piston in .sai cylinder, said (cylinder having its lower end provided with .a single port for the passage of fluid to and,

from the cylinder, said casing having a pair of inlet and oil tlet ports in its bearing. in'the path of said cylinder port,- the-bearing area which contains the'ports vforming a seat for the under side of the cylinder body, said cyl;

inder body being held toits seat by pressure within the casing, and means for maintain ing a pressure within said casing. i

11. In a compressor, the combination of a casing, an oil reservoir formed in the bottom of said-casing, an oscillating cylinder I body-mounted in said casing on a horizontal axis at the bottom of said reservoir, saidv cylinder body having a cylinder formed therein extending-partly through said cylinder from its top side, a piston in said cylinder projecting from its upper open end, said cylinder having a port formed in its lowef closed end, aportion of said casing, forming the Hearing for said cylinder body, a single pair of inlet and outlet ports on the under side oi said cylinder body adapted to register alternately with the cylinder ports, [and crank means Within the upper portion of said casing directly connected to said piston for operatingsaid piston and cylinder.

THOMAS I. POTTER. 

